What would be a good portable Dac/Amp to use with my HD6xx and Sony Xperia 1 V cell phone?
I am new to this hobby. I purchased a HD6XX and plan to use it with my Sony Xperia 1 V cell phone, that has a 3.5mm jack. I was wondering if I needed a portable dac/amp or just a portable amp and if so what would one recommend? Any assistance one could provide, would be greatly appreciated. Kind regards, Haz
Mar 7, 2024
Pics, though, you may have. Don't judge my messy workspace, I finished a thesis yesterday...
Just got some more listening time on my HD 6XX with the CTH+SDAC. Compared to the DFR, the sound is smoother, as one would expect with a tube amplifier, although I would also say it doesn't seem to be at the expense of precision. Similarly, as one would expect, the sound is not analytical; you should look elsewhere if you want something for studio reference. My preferences definitely lean towards musicality, and that is indeed the style of this amp. At the moment, I'm listening to some of the more recent stuff from Punch Brothers (e.g. Familiarity, In Wonder) where there are multiple simultaneous voices with strings of various depth in the background, and they are voiced quite nicely; each voice and instrument is easier to discern from the others, and the soundstage is wider as well. I think the treble is a bit more laid back on the CTH than the DFR, although after comparison, I would perhaps be more inclined to call the DFR highs a touch shrill than I would be to describe the CTH treble as dull. The bass is wonderful; hearing the bass line right at the opening of Julep is simply delicious. Impact seems pretty good too; I like Nine Inch Nails' opener "Somewhat Damaged" for this, and it hits hard. The DFR has maybe a hair more impact, although it sounds sloppy and thin by comparison.
So, still happy with initial impressions. We'll see how/if the sound evolves while this guy breaks in overnight.